George Enescu (1881-1955)

George Enescu has been a musician whose fame extends worldwide to this day. Enescu's Romanian Rhapsodies remain among the most important musical works to ever emerge from Romania, and the only works that have ever truly captured the spirit of universal Romanian Culture. He was creator of suites, chamber music, and the "Oedip Rege" (King Oidipus) opera.

Composer, pianist, and violinist of world renown, Enescu, born in 1881, studied at the Vienna School of Music, graduating in 1893, when he moved to Paris to continue his musical education. He made his debut in Paris in 1898 with "Poema Română" (Romanian Poem).

Not only a composer and interpret of music, he was also a fine teacher and instructor. His most known student was the late maestro of the violin Yehudi Menuhin. Enescu was professor of music in Paris and Vienna, and in the United States at Harvard and at the University of Illinois. Becoming a member of the Romanian Academy in 1932, Enescu died in Paris in 1955.